R-458MN WH Progressive Series : Perfect starting point for those interested in 8 string guitars

The Harley Benton R-458 is, simply put, a very good guitar, not just for the price, but in general. If you're looking to try an 8, but don't want to invest a large amount of money, then look no further. This guitar comes highly recommended, and is suited to all genres of music from the heaviest of metal, to the smoothest of jazz.

Pros:

- Well Constructed

- Surprisingly lightweight (lighter than my Epiphone Les Paul)

- Arrived nicely set up, and can easily be adjusted to personal preference

- Very Affordable!

Neutral:

- Pickups are nothing special, but that's to be expected on a guitar in this price range. They're useable.

- Minor blemishes in the finish. These don't bother me, and are purely aesthetic.

- Hardware is functional, but feels a little cheap.

Cons

- The scale length is only 26.5 inches. Tuning down to f# (and lower) is doable, but requires a thicker string than I would like to keep tension. A scale length of at least 27 inches would be ideal.